To ensure your copy of WF E-Mag don't forget to add Women Fitness email address to your email browser's "safe list" or address book. Click here for complete information.

DHEA has been touted as an "antidote for aging" and a "superhormone" because it acts as a precursor to other hormones in the body such as estrogen, progesterone, cortisone, androgen and testosterone, to name a few. 

Why look for supplement, when there are natural ways to maximize DHEA level. To learn more check out this week's article on DHEA: Watching the 'Mother Hormone' in Action.

In fitness,
Namita

Wall squats are great for building the legs and preparing for labor. Besides, a woman can give herself a massage for her aching back, due to her growing belly. Take the exercise ball and place it between the lower back and wall, leaning back. Move your feet so that you can see them over your belly. Placing hands on the thighs, bend the knees until you have reached a squatting position. Pull yourself back up with your legs, while pressing the ball into your back. The ball rolls up your back, massaging it.
 

YOU ARE WHAT YOU CHOOSE TODAY  

How do you describe yourself? In order to answer this question, you'll have to look back into your past, a past you are obviously tied to and find hard to escape.

What kind of self-descriptors do YOU have for yourself? These descriptors come in the form of "I'm", like I'm fat, I'm tired, I'm afraid, etc. But then, you also may have many POSITIVE I'ms, too, such as I'm honest, I'm a hard worker, I'm a good person, etc. These particular I'ms are proof that You are a Winner.
"That's me."
"I've always been that way."
"I can't help it." (Ooooohhh, this one irks me.)

These are the types of self-defeating thoughts that keep you from growing, changing, and making your life as exciting as you want it to be. Whatever I'ms you tell yourself are your choice. You choose to label yourself shy, a loser, fat, lazy, afraid, procrastinator, stubborn, anxious, bored, etc. You allow yourself to hold on to them.

Start challenging your self-defeating behaviors; identify the real reasons why you want to change. Don't deny yourself the positive rewards of change.

 Any old "I'm" that keeps you from growing, changing, and learning must be replaced. Do this, and you are ready for any challenge.

"Do not be desirous of having things done quickly. Do not look at small advantages. Desire to have things done quickly prevents their being done thoroughly. Looking at small advantages prevents great affairs from being accomplished.”

 – Confucius

Healthy Recipe

Zesty Veggie Stew over Brown Rice

Makes: 6

Ingredients:

• 1 tsp. olive oil

• 1/3 cup thinly sliced onion

• 2 medium carrots, chopped

• 1 green bell pepper, chopped

• 2 medium zucchini, halved lengthwise and sliced

• 1/2 cup low-sodium vegetable broth

• 1 (15 oz.) can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

• 1 (15 oz.) can no salt added diced tomatoes

• 1 (15 oz.) can no salt added stewed tomatoes

• 1 tsp. sugar

• 1/2 tsp. ground red pepper, or to taste

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

• 2 cups hot cooked brown rice

• 1 Tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

1. Pre-heat oil in large saucepan over high heat. Add onion, carrots and bell pepper. Sauté, stirring frequently, until they soften, about 5 to 6 minutes. Add zucchini, garlic and vegetable broth and continue cooking, stirring frequently for 3 minutes.

2. Stir in drained chickpeas and un-drained diced and stewed tomatoes, sugar, red pepper and salt and ground black pepper to taste. Leave uncovered and bring to a boil, stirring gently. Reduce heat and simmer uncovered for 20 minutes; add 2 more minutes if you desire thicker consistency.

3. Serve over hot brown rice and garnish with parsley, if desired.

Nutritional Information :

Per serving:

Calories 220

Total Fat  2g ( Saturated Fat 0 gr)

Carbohydrate 42 g

Protein 8 g

Dietary fiber 8 g

Sodium 95 mg .

source: AICR

DHEA: Watching the 'Mother Hormone' in Action
 

Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) is a steroid hormone made from cholesterol by the adrenal glands. It is called the "mother hormone" because it acts as a precursor to other hormones in the body such as estrogen, progesterone, cortisone, androgen and testosterone, to name a few. The fetus manufactures DHEA, which stimulates the placenta to form estrogen, thus keeping a pregnancy going. Production of DHEA stops at birth, then begins again around age seven and peaks when a person is in their mid-20s. From the early 30s on there is a steady decline (about 2 percent each year) until around age 75 and older when the level of DHEA in the body is about 5 percent of peak. It activates the immune system and promotes building up tissues.
 
 

Learn more about this article